‘JONESING’ FOR THE MCG

‘JONESING’ FOR THE MCG

St. Petersburg Swans Senior Coach and Ruck Rover Dustin Jones is looking to wind back the clock.

Among the first AFL International Scholarship Awardees – and two-time US Men’s National Team top-scorer and MVP, Jones will participate in this weekend’s Revolution training camp in a bid to return to the MCG for this year’s International Cup.

The Revos and Coach Tom Ellis will be looking to improve on an 8th place finish in the 2014 International Cup, and Jones faces intense competition from a USA talent pool that has expanded in recent campaigns.

The AFL International Cup will open August 5th, with the Grand Final scheduled as an MCG curtain-raiser before the Ausgust 18 Round 22 match pitting Collingwood and Geelong.

This year’s AFL International Cup will be capped off with the Grand Final, August 22 at the MCG.

Jones, 37, is a 19-year veteran of US Footy and the USAFL.

He has played for Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Florida.

Having been unofficially retired from footy, he joined the Swans and Tampa Bay ARFC as Senior Coach in 2015, and piloted the new squad to the USAFL D4 Grand Final in the club’s first competition at the USAFL National Tournament in 2016.

St. Petersburg is expected to be promoted to compete in Division III in 2017, and is currently the top-scoring offense in early-season USAFL metro rules play.